Nail art is a creative way to paint, decorate, enhance, and embellish the nails. It is a type of artwork that can be done on fingernails and toenails, usually after manicures or pedicures. A manicure and a pedicure are beauty treatments that trim, shape, and polish the nail. Often these procedures remove the cuticles and soften the skin around the nails. The nail care industry has been growing like never before ever since the invention of modern nail polish. In 2012, the United States witnessed a surging popularity of nail art. in the same year, a short nail art documentary was released: “NAILgasm”. The film explored the growing trend of nail art; from women across the world to high fashion runways. In 2014, Nailpolis.com, the online Museum of Nail Art was founded for nail artists and hobbyists to share their designs. It is free to visit this website, however, only members of Nailpolis are allowed to share their art. Women commonly use Youtube and Pinterest to learn how to do the newest and most interesting designs at home The interest for nail art passes by the symbol of femininity in the society, in how girls identify themselves as girls and the peer-to-peer relation, as a way of identification among their friends and the belonging into a group. Nail art is also a way to create its own identity through fashion, using colors and shapes as a disruption of childhood and entering to the female teen/adult world, also leaving the influence of their parents to create their own selves. Nail art’s popularity in media started with printed press with women magazines. It had an important role but it was not a mainstream fashion trend before 2000’s. After the internet age and the common use of the social media, the trend became major subculture among women. Social media made it easier to connect to the mass audience and with this people started to share their designs as a way of their creativity and use the nail as their blank canvas. YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, Tumblr and Twitter are the major platforms, which provides millions of new ideas and designs for the subculture. However, among these Pinterest is the most important platform for the new beauty trends according to a study. “The Beauty Industry’s Influence on Women in Society” By Ann Marie Britton, 2012 University of New Hampshire Scholars’ Repository YouTube with its nail art tutorial videos also has an important place among this subculture. Techniques and tools Acrylics: a chemical mixture of monomer liquid and polymer powder that can be directly applied on the nails or on artificial nails also called nails extensions or enhancements. Nail gel: a chemical combination similar to acrylics, also known as shellac nails. Manicurist applies several layers on the fingernails or/and toenails and lets it cure under a UV or LED light. When the gel is cured it hardens the nails. Gel is also common in a polish form known as gel polish, and, like other forms of gel, also requires a UV or LED light to cure. The difference between acrylic and gel is that acrylic dries naturally but gel needs UV light to cure. Similarly, where regular nail polish will dry naturally, gel polish will remain tacky until cured by a UV light. Nail polish/nail varnish: a lacquer applied to finger and toe nails to protect or as a base color. Nail manicurists also use a base coat to protect and strengthen nails, as well as preventing the natural nail from yellowing or staining. Several options are available for decorating nails Glitters Nail art pens Piercing Water marbling Please Subscribe for more videos and updates